Honey I Shrunk the Household

Household size across the world is in decline, according to the latest findings from TGI. The number of people per household varies widely, but overall there is a downward trend as more people live alone and fewer children are born.

TGI analysed household composition by interviewing 300,000 adults across 15 countries. With an average of five people per household, India has the largest household size, while Germany has the smallest with an average of 2.5 people. Britain, France, Germany and Spain have all seen a recent decline, the most dramatic being in Spain where the average number has dropped from 3.8 to 3.2 over the past five years.

A key factor in falling numbers is the increase in dwellings containing just one person. The proportion of one-person households now stands at 21% in Germany and 17% in Britain, for example. Most of these are made up of people aged over 55 but the trend is apparent in younger groups, too. Among those aged 18 to 34 in Britain, 15% (1.1 million people) now live alone. There is also a growth of DINKs (double income no kids): the survey found that children are present in just 21% of households in Germany, for example, compared with 60% in India.

TGI points to the changes in consumption habits likely to result from these changes. In Germany, where a fifth of the population lives alone, consumption of ready meals has increased by 16% just in the last three years. There is also likely to be an increase in demand for white goods, cars and computers, thanks to an increase in independent living.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.